Review: King Cross in Jakarta, Indonesia

King Cross is yet another large adult entertainment complex for men in Jakarta that operates a lot like Malioboro and Alexis Hotel which I’ve reviewed previously. I don’t know if it’s busier or whether it just appears that way because it’s smaller but King Cross draws its fare share of customers.

Any temporary visitor to Jakarta would probably find it at least a little difficult to locate King Cross on their own. But since nearly every temporary visitor to Jakarta gets around with the help of taxis this is really know problem. King Cross is well known by capital city cabbies and even those who don’t know it could probably find out the location pretty easily.

Getting into King Cross

Visitors are briefly looked over by a team of security guards before entering the King Cross complex though most foreigners don’t seem to be checked in the same way as unknown locals do. I’m sure VIPs aren’t checked at all.

After passing through the doors into the rather large lobby customers pick up a numbered wrist band that will be used to track their expenditures during their stay. An entry fee of 70,000 Rupiah ($6 US) is charged first. Once the bracelet is safely affixed customers are free to travel throughout the complex which offers different entertainment options on various floors.

A lively lounge called the “Resto & Pool Bar” sits on the ground floor. It’s accessed through a set of doors just past the front counter. This is a very large bar with dozens of tables and chairs. The lighting is low and there is music but it’s not as dark or noisy as many other clubs around. There are also plenty of smokers but the room is well aerated. Customers are quickly shown to a seat. Drinks are reasonably priced starting at 30,000 Rupiah ($2.50 US) and drinks bought for ladies don’t cost any more than they do for customers. Bleacher style seats are situated on both sides of the floor. Twenty or thirty women dressed in nice (but normal) clothes are seated on each wearing numbered badges. These women can join customers for a drink or a chat or they can be taken upstairs for full service massage for anywhere from 335,000 to 558,000 Rupiah ($29-48 US) depending on the gal. Customers can summon these gals themselves or ask one of the numerous male floor attendants to chose a gal for them. The attendants do their jobs well but they can pester for tips from foreigners. English isn’t widely spoken by anyone except the front desk workers and a few managers.

Customers who don’t wish to be accompanied by a lady can simply sit at a table, have a drink and enjoy the stage show. This usually starts with a few women in matching bikinis and progressing to more adult entertainment as the night goes on. Some dancers are available for full service massage for 1,200,000 Rupiah ($102 US) though they can chose which customers they take if indeed they take any at all.

The various floors

The first floor holds countless hotel rooms and a karaoke section. I can’t say much about this. Regular readers will know that I’m not much of a KTV fan.

A full service massage parlor is located on the second floor. Some of the women who work there are real lookers. The set up is more point and shoot than the other floors but there’s no real difficulty for customers who want to chose a lady anywhere in the building. The massage costs 500,000 Rupiah ($43 US) all in. The masseuses wear different themed costumes every day of the week. Some are quite sexy.

The third floor houses the club portion of King Cross. This seems to be the most popular area. It’s a lot like the other clubs in Jakarta which also host working women. There are loads of ladies about and some dancers. Chinese women are also available though they tend to be on the older side. Prices for everything are higher on the third floor. The rates for full service massage starts at 1,200,000 Rupiah. Drinks are expensive by local standards and lap dances (which at least go a lot further than they do in American strip clubs) are given when customers purchase a series of 50,000 Rupiah shots for the ladies involved.

Summary

The rooms at King Cross are nice enough. They’re certainly better than massage rooms in many other countries around the world. Even though they aren’t bad by any means they don’t compare as well to the rooms at Alexis or Malioboro. Small showers are stationed in each room which also hold a closet, large bed and a mirror. Service ranges from standard to great depending on the provider and the circumstances. The women are regularly tested for illness and everything is supposed to be done with a cover. Rules aren’t always followed though and customers may have to insist on a cover or even bring their own if they require it. Women who work at King Cross don’t ask for tips and they’re not expected. Obviously they are always appreciated.

Most of the women who work at King Cross are pretty but there are on average less stunners and “models” than there are at the more prominent places around town. Generally speaking the women are on balance with the women at Classic Hotel in the looks department. Someone would have to be a real stickler not to see some ladies they find attractive somewhere in the building.

Once customers have taken in all the entertainment they need they simply walk back to the front desk and settle their tab. Once they pay up they’ll be given a receipt that they hand over to the security guards to be let back outside. Taxis can be summoned in front of the building or customers can arrange for their own transportation.

As a purpose built adult entertainment complex offering a lot in the way of adult entertainment for very reasonable prices King Cross deserves a full four stars. There are better places in Jakarta and a few other cities but compared with much of the world this approaches the top of the food chain. If I owned the place I would probably make a few changes but I don’t and I never will. As it stands it’s a solid place.

King Cross. Kokan Permata Blok E38-42, Jalan Boulevard, Jakarta, Indonesia. Click here for a map. Open every day from 4:00 PM until 3:00 AM. Phone: +62 021-451-7353. Website: http://www.kingcrossjakarta.com